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 The Bulls are a half-game ahead of the Washington Wizards in the
competition in the East, while Philadelphia is limping toward the
finish with seven straight losses. The 76ers need to win two of
their final three games to reach 20 wins but they took another step
in the wrong direction as the Wizards shot a franchise-best 65.3
percent from the field while trouncing Philadelphia 119-90 on
Wednesday. Rose scored 12 points in 20 minutes as Chicago posted an
89-78 win over the Miami Heat on Thursday in his second game since
returning from knee injury. “We know that we need Derrick to get to
where we want to go,” center Joakim Noah told reporters. “And
overall, I think it’s pretty positive just the way he’s moving out
there.”
TV: 8 p.m. ET, CSN Philadelphia, CSN Chicago
ABOUT THE 76ERS (18-61): Center Nerlens Noel suffered a sprained
right ankle in the contest against Washington and was sporting a
walking boot after the game. He will sit out against Chicago and
also could miss the final two games of the season. Noel isn’t going
to chase down Minnesota’s Andrew Wiggins in the Rookie of the Year
race but he had a strong second half of the season and is averaging
9.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.9 blocked shots and 1.8 steals.
ABOUT THE BULLS (47-32): Rose is averaging 10.5 points on 8-of-24
shooting in the two games and knows he has a way to go to recapture
his form. “It’s good but every game I’m just trying to get better,”
Rose told reporters. “Try to push myself every game … I think
pushing myself as far as conditioning, and I think I’m getting
better.” Chicago coach Tom Thibodeau said Rose will progress once he
finds his rhythm and he just wants his star point guard to
concentrate on improving with each outing.
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BUZZER BEATERS
1. Chicago has won 10 of the past 11 meetings.
2. Bulls PF Pau Gasol had 16 points and 15 rebounds against Miami to
notch his league-leading 51st double-double.
3. Philadelphia SF Robert Covington scored a career-best 27 points
against the Wizards and has made 10 3-pointers over the last three
games.
PREDICTION: Bulls 107, 76ers 88
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